Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SWALLOW SONG by ANONYMOUS

First Line: THE SWALLOW COMES WINGING / HER WAY TO US HERE
Last Line: "OPEN THE DOOR TO THE SWALLOW, THEN / FOR WE ARE CHILDREN AND NOT OLD MEN"
Subject(s): SWALLOWS;
THE swallow comes winging
Her way to us here;
Fair weather she's bringing,
And a happy new year.
White is her breast,
And black all the rest.

Roll us out a plum-cake,
For the swallow's sake,
From the house of your plenty;
And wine in a flasket,
And cheese in a basket;
Or a bakie she'll eat
Of your pease or your wheat,
She's not over-dainty!

Will you give us? Or shall we go?
If you will, -- why, rest you so;
But and if you shall say us nay,
Then we will carry the door away,
Or the lintel above it, or, easiest of all,
Your wife within, for she is but small.
Give us our need
And take God speed.
Open the door to the swallow, then,
For we are children and not old men.



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